Zipper chain machine



Dec. 9, 1969 G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 10, 1967 Dec. 9, 1969 e. PERRELLA 3,432,301

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10. 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. PERRELLAZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 'Dec. 9, 1969 Filed May 10. 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 5Dec.9,1 969 G. PERREL LA 3,482,301

' ZIPPER 01mm MACHINE Filed 'May 10. 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 9,19699 G. PIE-mam. 3,482,301

I ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 6

M 1969 a; PERRELLA 3,4

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10, 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 9, 1969e. PERRELLA 3,482,301

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10. 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 ,KMW Z2;

Dec. 9. G. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10, 1967 I l6Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 9

Dec.- 9, 1969 Filed May 10. 1967 s. PERRE'LLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16Sheets-Sheet 9 DcL 9; 1969 (5.. PERRELLLA 3,48

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10, 1967 I 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 d) v e R 05m Q l l f0 I l r. L I I 4 :i, S I w i if HIM I. unuunum 3 v g "f R FIGJI G-PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE 16Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed May 10, 1967FIG.

G. 'PERRELLA ZIPPER crmu MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 12 Fiied say 10, 1967Dec. 9, 1969 s. PERRELLA ZIPPER can: momma 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 Fil ed May10, 1967 Dec-.9,1 a. PERRELLA 3, 3

ZIPPER came MACHINE I Filed may 10, 1967 1e Sheets-Sheet 14 Dec. 9, 1969s. PERRELLA ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE I 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 Fild May 10. 1967M/ I f/M MM Dec. 9, 1969 art-imam.

ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Filed May 10. 1967 16 Sheets-Sheet l6 3,482,301ZIPPER CHAIN MACHINE Guido Perrella, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assignorto Dynacast Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed May 10, 1967, 581'.No. 637,518 Claims priority, application Canada, June 14, 1966, 962,900Int. Cl. A41h 37/06 US. Cl. 29-207 .5 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A machine combining in one operation the forming of zipperchain from fiat wire stock; the sizing of the zipper elements, and thebrushing and polishing of the surfaces of the elements. The formingmachine includes an interposing device for allowing the passing ofzipper tape through the apparatus without having chain elements securedthereto. The sizing section crimps the working surfaces of the elementsso that they are uniform in size and the brushing section sequentiallyrotates the zipper under contra-rotating brushes so that all the exposedsurfaces receive a finishing.

This invention relates to machines for forming separable fasteners orzipper chains from flat wire and in particular to a machine whichincludes apparatus for performing all the operations necessary toprovide a finished product, i.e. a formed, sized and polished zipperchain.

In Canadian Patent No. 661,442 of Apr. 6, 1963 there is provided azipper machine that was substantially simplified in nature compared tothose at that time known to the trade. Notwithstanding the fact that thefastener element of each zipper chain is extremely small in nature, theolder forming machines Were extremely large in size and relatively bulkywith the result that substantial floor area was taken up in zippermaking factories. The invention of the above-mentioned Canadian patentprovided substantial improvement of such machines in producing a devicethat was quite small and extremely fast in production. The wire and tapefeeds to the machine were automatic and the device produced a zipperchain in a high footage to time ratio. However, after the chain wasmade, i.e. the tape and elements were secured together, the chain had tobe sized and brushed or polished in separate operations.

The present invention provides, in one aspect, a zipper chain makingdevice that is a further improvement over that of the above-mentionedpatent. Generally speaking, there are improvements to the tape pressureand drive systems so that tension thereon is obtained more simply and abetter brake system is now incorporated that is much more effective thanthat of the above-mentioned patent. A further improvement is the meansfor gapping the elements on the tape whereby a production run of 6"zippers mixed with 9" or 12 zippers can easily and readily beaccomplished.

A further improvement to theart in general is the bringing together inone apparatus all the mehanism necessary for a compete zipper operation.For example, the device presently to be described performs the followingoperations: (a) the first section receives tape and wire from supplysources and forms the zipper chain by punching the elements from theflat wire and applying them to the tape either in continuous or gappedor spaced operation; (b) the apparatus includes a device forautomatically cham v fering and sizing each element on the chain and forcarrying out this operation either on continuous zipper or spaced zipperchain; (c) the apparatus includes means for brushing and cleaning orpolishing each external face of the zipper after it leaves thechamfering section; (d) the United States Patent ICC apparatus providesmeans for winding the finished, polished Zipper onto spools. Theapparatus may be used as a complete zipper manufacturing centre or itcan be broken up into its separate sections whereby an operator who isnow provided a zipper making section need only acquire the chamferingand brushing mechanisms, etc., which are connectable one to another.

According to one aspect, therefore, the present invention relates toapparatus for manufacturing zipper chain comprising a device forreceiving wire and tape therein and including means for forming chainelements from said wire and fastening the latter onto said tape; a pairof cooperating rotatable members adapted to receive said zipper chaintherebetween for sizing and chamfering each element of said chain; meansfor brushing each exposed side surface of said chain elements; and meansfor spool winding the finished zipper chain for storage and shipping.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there isprovided a device for forming zipper chain comprising a frame; means forfeeding wire and tape into said frame; a die set and ram guide mountedfor cooperative operation in said frame; an eccentric driving shaft foractuating said ram with respect to said die; means interconnecting thedriving shaft with the wire and tape feeding means to apply incrementalmovement thereto; and means for intermittently interrupting theapplication of Wire onto said tape during continuous running of thelatter.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanyingdrawings in which;

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the complete zipper forming apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the upper section of the apparatus shownin FIGURE 1 and illustrating in partial phantom line the drive mechanismfor the various devices of the apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the zipper chain making deviceshown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the gapping device taken along the lines55 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a section along lines 66 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a further side elevation of the zipper making device, partlysectioned to show the wire feed press and backward return mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view along lines 8-8 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of the die Set assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a top elevation view of the die assembly shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sizing and chamfering unitshown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is an end elevation of the chamfering unit shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a top or plan view of the brushing unit showing the drivemotor and bell crank mechanism as Well as the end pulley adjacent thewinding spool apparatus as seen in side elevation in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 14 is a further top view of the brushing mechanism shown inFIGURE 13 but with the motor and protective cover removed;

FIGURES 14a, 14b and are sections along lines aa, b-b, and cc of FIGURE14;

FIGURE 15 is a section taken along the lines 15-15 of FIGURE 14 anddisclosing the structural features of one of the brushing units; and

FIGURE 16 is an endelevation of the spool and its associated windingmechanism shown in side elevation in FIGURE 2.

3 GENERAL ASSEMBLY Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, theapparatus comprises, in its integral unit, a cabinet 1 having a controlpanel 2, a zipper chain manufacturing device 3; a sizing and chamferingdevice 4; a brushing and polishing device 5 and spool winding mechanism6. There is also included a supply roll 7 for the chain Wire and asimilar supply for tape can be provided adjacent the upper end of thedevice so that the tape may be led into the zipper chain making device 3as shown. The cabinet 1 also includes a remote control panel 8 and ablower 9 for cooling the zipper making device 3 and for collecting dustfrom the brushing mechanism 5.

As previously mentioned, the brushing device 5, chamfering device 4 orzipper making device 3 can also be used independently of one another butin reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, they will be described as beinginterrelated to provide a full production unit.

The wire 10 is drawn from a supply source 7 upwardly through a guidetube 12 and into the zipper making device 3 by way of a wire guideassembly 14 (FIGURE 7). Simultaneously, a tape 16 is fed from a supplysource (not shown) into the zipper making device 3 byway of a tape guide18, shown in FIGURE 3. Device 3 punches the chain elements from the wireand applies them onto the bead of the tape and the tape leaves thedevice 3 through a tape pressure cartridge 20, shown in FIGURE 4.

The chain then progresses over a guide arm 22 into the confines of thesizing and chamfering device 4 and subsequently travels around guides 24and 26 into the brushing device 5 and is finally wound onto the spool 6as a finished product.

In view of the tension that may be applied to both the wire before itenters the chain making device 3 and also to the chain after it leavesthe latter and progresses through the chamfering and brushing elements,means are provided to stop the machine at various stages if tensionbuilds up to a dangerous level. It will be seen from FIG- URE 2 that thewire guide tube 12 is secured to an arm 28 that is pivotally mounted tothe apparatus cabinet at 30. The end of this arm, adjacent the pivot 30,terminates adjacent a limit switch 32 having an actuating arm 34. If,for example, the supply spool 7 for the wire should become locked or inany way encounter sufiicient friction to resist the feeding draw of thedevice 3, tension will be applied to the wire 10 as it passes throughits guide tube 12 and, in so doing, will draw the arm 28 downwardlyuntil such time as the upper end of the arm 28 throws the actuating arm34 of the limit switch 32 to shut off the machine. Spring 13 appliesnecessary tension to tube 12 as shown.

Ann 22 is connected to a block 35 pivotally mounted at 36. Alsoconnected to the block 35 is one end of a rod 38 which is pivotallyconnected at its other end to an arm 40, which in turn is pivotallymounted to the cabinet as at 42. Arm 40 is slotted as at 44 to receiveone end of an actuating arm 46 on a limit switch 48. It will beappreciated that, if the tension on the chain leaving the machine 3reaches such a degree that the arm 22 is bent downward- 1y beyond theposition shown at 22a in phantom line, the arm 38 and arm 40 will bepivoted to such a degree that the limit switch 48 will be actuated byits arm 46 and the machine will be stopped. Limit switch 48 and the arms38 and 22 deal with the tension applied to the chain between the chainmaking apparatus 3 and the chamfering device 4.

A still further limit switch mechanism is provided between thechamfering device 4 and the brushing mechanism 5. It will be seen thatchain guides 24 and 26 below the chamfering mechanism 4 are mounted on ahorizontally disposed rod 50 which is mounted for pivotal movement at52. A limit switch 54 is provided with an actuator 56 having an arm 58which is adapted to be engaged by the horizontal rod 50. If tension onthe chain between the .4 chamfering section 4 and brushing section 5increases or decreases beyond desired or acceptable degrees, the tensionor lack thereof will be transferred to the horizontal arm 50 by way ofthe guides 24 and 26 which in turn will actuate the limit switch 54through the actuator 56 to stop the machine. v

The above described arms are not only responsive to tension in the wireand zipper supporting roles in which they shut off the apparatus bylimit switches but these arms are interconnected with the drivemechanism of the complete apparatus so as to alter the drive ratiobetween one unit and another to take up or compensate for slack ortension between these units. The drive means for the apparatus comprisesan electric motor 62 as shown in FIGURE 2. This motor drives the mainshaft of the zipper making machine 3 by means of a timing belt 64. Itwill be noted that this drive is constant. Additionally, motor 62 isinterconnected with and drives a gear box 66 by means of a variableratio belt 68 and an idler pulley 70.

Idler pulley 70 is rotatably mounted on the terminal end of an extensionbar 72 secured by bolts 74 to one end of the arm 40 just beyond thepivot point 42 of that arm. It will appear evident from FIGURE 2 thatidler pulley 70 maintains the variable ratio belt 68 in proper tensionbetween the pulley 65 on motor 62 and the corresponding pulley on gearbox 66. Furthermore, this tension is maintained by spring means 76connected to the upper end of the cabinet at one of its ends and, at itsother end, to one of a number of holes 80 in the bar 72.

Gear box 66 has two output pulleys, pulley 82 (as shown in the form of asprocket) which rotates a driven sprocket 84 of the chamfering andsizing mechanism via a roller chain 86; and a second pulley 88 whichrotates a lay shaft 90 by means of a pulley 92 thereon by way of asecond variable ratio belt 94 and an associated tensioning idler pulley96. In similarity to the idler pulley 70 and its association with arm40, idler pulley 96 is mounted for rotation on an extension bar 98secured to and extending from the inner end of the pivot mounting rod52. Spring means 100 applies desired tension onto the belt 94 by itsconnection at one end between the cabinet and, at its other end, withthe bar 98, as shown. The pivot mount 52 and the lay shaft 90 aresecured to a plate member 102 by means of bearing caps 104.

A pulley 93, by means of a further variable ratio belt 106, drives adraw pulley 108 of the brushing mechanism 5, specifically that pulley atthe outer or finished end of that mechanism. Also mounted on the layshaft 90 is a third pulley 110 which serves to drive a gear box 112through a further pulley 114. As shown in FIGURE 2, gear box 112 is thedrive mechanism for the wind-up spool 6 and rotation of the latter iscarried out through a spring belt 116.

The above described variable ratio drive together with their tensioningarms are provided to take up or let out any slack in the wire or zipperchain whilst it is traveling between the chain making device 3,chamfering section 4, brushing section 5, or winding section 6. Forexample, if, for some reason, the chain C after leaving the chain makingdevice 3 applies a sufiicient tension to the arm 22 to pull itdownwardly towards the position 22a so that the arm 40 pivots about itspoint 42, as previously described, the extension 72 of this arm willalso be pivoted downwardly toward position P and in so doing will applya specified amount of slack to the belt 68 which, in turn, will alterthe gear ratio of gear box 66 and the revolutions per minute of itspulley or sprocket 82 thereby, through the chain 86, slowing thesprocket 84 of the chamfering section 4. This prevents breakage 'of thezipper chain and the chamfering section 4 will be in concert with themaking machine 3 insofar as speed is concerned. Of course, if thetension is great enough, the limit switch 48 will be thrown and themachine will be stopped. Likewise, any change to the ratio of gear box66 by the variable ratio belt 68 through the action of the pivotal idlerpulley 70 will also be applied to the draw pulley 108 of the brushingmechanism through the intermediary of the pulley 88, belt 94, idlerpulley 96, lay shaft pulley 92 and belt 106. This is also carried onestep further in changing the ratio of the lay shaft 90 and the gear box112 driving the windingvsprocket or spool 6. In effect, any change inthe tension at the forward end of the machine will be compensated forthroughout the complete drive mechanism when that tension is effected bythe chain between the making machine 3 and the chamfering section 4.

Similar control or ratio change is also applicable between thechamfering section 4 and the brushing section 5 by means of the swingingor pivoting action of extension arm 98 changing the ratio of belt 94through pivotal movement of the pulley 96, arm 98 being originally swungthrough movement of the horizontal arm 50 in response to tension on theguides 24 and 26 by chain leaving the chamfering section 4. Here again,if the tension is sufliciently strong enough, the limit switch 54 willbe thrown and the machine will be stopped.

The zipper making device 3 is designated for extremely high speed (inthe region of 6,000 r.p.rn.) and in order to maintain the mechanism ascool as possible, a blower 9 conveys cool air onto the under side of themachine 3 which is ribbed (not shown) to take advantage of the bestmeans of conveying this cooling air to the interior of the device.

It will also be noted from FIGURE 1 that a vacuum system is connected tothe brushing assembly 5 and consists of a hose 11 which extends from thebrushing assembly down into the cabinet where it is connected tosuitable receiving means which will be explained further in thisdisclosure. The vacuum system removes all the cuttings and fineparticles from the area of the brushes and deposits them into a storingreceptacle.

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE The device for forming the zipper chain from thetape and the wire is shown in detail in FIGURES 3, 4 and 7. Referringfirstly to FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4, the device 3 includes a body 118 whichcarries three main shafts; a wire feed shaft 120 for drawing the wire 10from its source of supply into the device; a tape feed shaft 122 fordrawing the tape from its supply source into the device 3; and the maindrive shaft 124 that is driven by the motor 62 and belt '64 (FIGURE 2)and which, in turn, drives the wire feed shaft 120 and tape feed shaft122 and which also actuates the die members as will subsequently bedescribed.

The main drive shaft 124 includes three eccentrics for actuating theother shafts and the die mechanism. As shown in FIGURE 4, shaft 124 iscradled in the body 118 by means of roller bearing mountings 126 and128. Intermediate these roller bearing mountings is the sleeve 130which, as will later be described, actuates the die mechanism. On theouter end of the shaft 124 a further eccentric 132 drives a wire feedpawl 134 and a third eccentric 136 drives a tape feed pawl 138.

The main or eccentric shaft 124 receives its drive from belt 64 by meansof a pulley 140 secured to one end of the shaft 124 with a key 142 andset screw 144. It will be seen from FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 7 that back lashor rearward turning of the shaft 124 is effectively prevented by a brakesystem generally indicated at 146. A running plate 148 and a thrustcover 150 are concentrically mounted on the shaft 124 and are separatedby spacer 152 and are secured to the body 118 by cap screws 154. Alsoconcentrically mounted on the shaft 124 is a ratchet wheel 156 (FIG. 7)which is prevented from turning in a reverse direction by a pawl 158secured to the body by a dowel pin 160 and maintained in engagement withthe teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 162.

Ratchet wheel 156 is adapted to rotate with the pulley 140 and shaft 124and, to this end, it is frictionally engaged by the pulley 140 throughthe intermediary of a friction spacer 164 and a pair of Bellevillesprings 166.

Pressure on the plate or ratchet wheel 156 is applied through theBelleville washers 166 by means of a collar clamp 168 and a cap screw170 which applies an axial pressure on the shaft 124 when it istightened down. In order for the ratchet wheel 156 to remain freerunning, it is mounted for rotation between the running plate 148 andthrust cover 150 by means of roller bearings 172 as shown in FIGURE 4.The above described brake system provides a substantial improvement overthat of the previous Patent 661,442 as may be seen from a review ofFIGURE 7 of that patent.

Another improvement of Patent 661,442 that is worthy of note is the typeof tape feed or drive. In the present proposal, it will be seen that thetape drive is external of the body 118, specifically on an extension ofthe body 118a. In the above mentioned patent, the tape drive wasinternal of the frame machine which made it extremely difficult to applyregular maintenance or break-down service. Moreover, the means ofapplying pressure to the tape in Patent 661,442 (FIGURE 5) wascomplicated and expensive, for example in that the arm 73 pivoted abouta shaft 74 in response to pressure applied on the other end of the arm73.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, the tape feed shaft 122 is mounted forrotation in the body extension 118a by roller bearings 174 and 176. Theinner or passage ends of shaft 122 is knurled at 178 to apply a drawingpressure onto the tape T, as shown, and pressure is applied to the tapeT by means of a pressure cartridge 180 mounted in a housing 182 andsurrounded by a coil spring 184. The outer end of the cartridge 180 isconnected to a cammed handle 186 whereby tension can .be applied orrelieved. This cartridge structure is shown in side view in FIGURE 7.

The wire feed shaft 120 is mounted for rotation in the body 118 byroller bearings 188 which may be lubricated from nipples 190 as shown inFIGURE 4. A desired torque resistance must also be built into the wirefeed shaft to prevent a rotation faster than is required. Therefore, theshaft 120' is provided with a two-plate clutch 192 mounted between aflange 194 of the casting of the main shaft and the body 118. Pressureon the clutch is effected by the other end of the shaft 120 andspecifically by a pressure nut 196 which is threadably attached to theshaft 120 as at 198. The shoulder of the pressure nut 196 has anopposing surface in a pressure washer 200 that is positioned in acountersunk region of the body 118 and intermediate the surfaces of thewasher 200 and the shoulder 196 are a plurality of pressurizedBelleville washers 202. It will be appreciated that adjustment of thepressure nut 196 will draw the shaft inwardly by applying pressurethrough the Belleville washers and therefore increasing the amount oftorque necessary to rotate the shaft 120. This pressure is transferredto the outer end or driven end of the shaft 120 by means of a pressureplug 204 which acts against bearings 206 through spherical washers 208secured in place by a cap screw 210. It will be noted that the drivenend of shaft 120 is formed with a circumferential groove 212, thepurpose of which will be subsequently described.

Turning now to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the drive end of the wirefeed shaft 120 which includes the circumferential slot 212, is alsoprovided with a plurality of teeth 214 whereby this shaft may beincrementally rotated through the reciprocal action of a driving blade216 on one end of the wire feed pawl 134 that is driven by the eccentric132 on the drive shaft 124. As previously mentioned, this driving forceof the pawl 134 must overcome the tension applied to the shaft 120 bythe Belleville springs 202 as well as by further spring means 218 asshown.

The tape feed pawl 138 that is driven by eccentric 136 is also providedwith a blade 220 for incrementally rotating the tape feed shaft 122 bymeans of teeth 224 circumferentially placed on the protruding endthereof. Back lash or reversal of the shaft 122 is prevented by theblade 7 226 of a back feed pawl 228 mounted on the body 118a. Pawl 228and pawl 134 are interconnected by spring means 230.

The zipper chain may be manufactured in one continuous length or it maybe desirable to manufacture the chain in lengths of say 6 inches with a2 or 3 inch gap between each chain. The tape, of course, would remaincontinuous. The present apparatus provides a gapping mechanism indicatedgenerally at 232 in FIGURE 3 and shown generally in FIGURE 1 and insectional detail in FIGURES 5 and 6 The gapping device comprises frontand rear body portions 234 and 236, respectively, secured together bycap screws 238 and this unified body is then secured to the body 118 ofthe zipper making machine 3 by means of further cap screws 240.

Briefly, the gapping device carries a blade member 242 which cooperatesWith and rides in the S101. 212 of the wire feed shaft 120. As shown inFIGURE 2,, the blade 242 is wound upon a spool 244 from whence it is fedinto the gapping device 232. As shown in FIGURE 5, the blade ridesintermediate the front and rear bodies 234, 236 of the gapping deviceand-rides on a key 246 extending the length of the guide. The blade ismaintained in engagement with the key by a plurality of fingers 248spaced throughout the length of the guide and these fingers areresiliently mounted on the ends of coil springs 250, as shown. Moreover,it will be seen from FIGURE 6 that a plurality of set screws 252disposed intermediate each spring and finger 248 serves to press a ballmember 254 against the side of the blade by means of a spring 256. Theguide 232 is provided with a shaft 258 for operating the fingers 248 andthis is accomplished by the inner ends of each spring 250 being disposedin slots 260 in the shaft as shown in FIGURE 5. The outer terminal endof the shaft 258 is provided with a handle 262 connected to a collar 264and the lower end of the collar is provided with a recess 266 adapted toreceive therein the head 268 of a bolt 270, the bolt being resilientlypressed into engagement with the collar by means of a coil spring 272.

It will be apparent that, by swinging the handle 262 in an arc, theshaft 258, springs 250 and fingers 248 will be rotated so as to free theblade 242.

It will be seen from FIGURE 3 that the blade 242 is provided with a lowor normal elevation or height 274 and a raised portion 276. It will alsobe noted that the normal portion 274 corresponds in its height with thedepth of the slot 212 in the wire feed 120 so that, during reciprocalaction of the wire feed pawl 134 and the blade 216 thereof, the guidewill be moved along one notch or tooth as is the notches on the drivenend of the feed shaft 120. However, if a spacing is required between thechain elements of the zipper, for example, 6 zippers, then a raisedportion 276 will be inserted in the blade at 6" intervals and the lengthof the raised portion 276 will correspond with the distance between onezipper and the next, say 2" or 3". As this portion 276 is engaged by theblade 216 of the pawl 234, blade 216 is then raised from engagement withthe teeth 214 on the wire feed shaft. This therefore prevents rotationof the latter and wire is no longer fed into the device although thetape feed is constant throughthe action of the pawl 138 and its blade onthe tape feed shaft 122. After the raised portion 276 of the blade isfed through the guide and the guide outlet 242a, and the height of theblade returns to the normal portion 274, then the blade 216 will againengage the teeth 214 to institute further rotation of the wire feedshaft 120.

TOOL AND DIE SET In FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the body 118 of thechain making machine has secured to its upper surface a tool seat 178and a die set clamp 280. The die set assembly is shown in detail inFIGURE 9 in section and in FIG- URE 10 in plan view while the tool setmay be seen in section in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. As shown in FIG-'URE 9, the die block 282 includes a bridge member 284 which extendsdownwardly into the confines of the device 3 as shown in peeked line inFIGURE 3. This constitutes the inlet into the die block 282 of the chainwire which enters via a chain wire guide 286 shown in FIGURE 7. At thispoint, it is controlled by a wire feed press 288 which in construction,is not unlike the tape pressure cartridge 180 shown in FIGURE 5. Thefeed press 288 includes a pressurized wheel 290 cooperating with aknurled wheel 292. Tension may be applied or released through handle 294which is cammed onto one end of a shaft 296 resiliently mounted byspring 298.

The tool seat assembly 178 includes an opening 300 by means of which amale tool may receive adjustment from a pin 302. The latter cooperateswith a female punch positioned in the die set. The latter device ismounted together with a punch housing 304 which is adapted to slide inthe die set guide 280 shown in FIGURE 3. It will be noted in FIGURES 9and 10 that one end of the punch housing 304 is engaged by the maineccentric on the drive shaft 124. Reciprocal action of the tool housing304 is effected by the eccentric 130 and the housing is returned andkept into engagement with the eccentric through a pair of rods 306 andtheir associated springs 308.

Turning now to FIGURE 10, it will be seen that the tape which is drawninto the machine via a passageway 310 receives an element of the chainpunched from the wire in the die set. This is effected at location 312shown in FIGURE 3. The apparatus of FIGURE 10 includes left and rightcams 314 and 316 which have sloped ends 318. These sloped ends act onmating surfaces of left and right hand jaws. The cams are held inposition by suitable cam clamps 322 and, as the punch housing 304 isreciprocated backwards and forwards, the sloped surfaces 318 and 320cause the jaws 321 to move inwardly and outwardly thereby clamping thechain element onto the tape. When the tool housing 304 is reversedthrough the action of the springs and rods 308 and 306, the left andright hand jaws of the surfaces 320 are re-opened through the work of aU-shaped spring 324 shown in FIGURE 9.

As will be seen from FIGURES 3 and 7, a flat, long leaf type spring 326serves to return the knock-out in the die shoe (FIGURE 7) and, aspreviously mentioned, this spring includes an aperture 330 through whichthe male member of the punch may be adjusted by pin 302. This is bestshown in FIGURE 7. It will also be noted from FIGURE 10 that a pair ofvacuum tubes 328 cooperate with the jaw members to draw away the chipsformed when the element is punched from the wire and clamped onto thetape head. The relative position of the vacuum tube 328 is coaxial,Moreover, FIGURES 9 and 10 show the means of adjusting the cam members314 and 316 which comprises a pair of set screws 331 that bear on slopedcooperating surfaces 332 of the outer end of the cam members 314 and316. This provides easy access to the cams and their longitudinaladjustment in the die set.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the die guide of FIGURE 3 comprises a pair ofplate members 334 mounted on guides 336 and held in position by capscrews 338 and Belleville washers. 340. It will be appreciated that easyremoval of the die block is effected by unscrewing the set screws 338 toloosen the clamps and collarplates 334 whereby the latter may be liftedaway and the die set can be removed from the body 118. This provides asubstantial improvement over the older system where the complete dieblock had to be dismantled.

SIZING AND CHAMFERING UNIT As shown in FIGURE. 1, the sizing andchamfering unit is disposed intermediate the chain making device 3 andthe brushing section 5. It works the surfaces of the chain elements ofthe zipper to ensure a uniform thickness thereof and also to chamfer theexposed surfaces of these elements so as to remove some of the rougheredges before the chain enters the brushing section.

